Our Team

The NYFA has helped my career incredibly, the company gave me the opportunity to be seen by some of the biggest agents in the UK and I am now represented by Shane Collins Associates. I owe my success to the NYFA.

Zak Russel-Jones. Alumni

Staff

Tutor

Mentor

Alumni

Profiles

Please find below a list of some of our key staff, notable alumni, previous mentors and speakers who have kindly passed on their invaluable knowledge onto our members.

Chris KumHoi

Actor

War Machine

Chris Lew Kum Hoi is an actor and joined National Youth Film Academy in 2011, our first Introductory course. Since joining, Chris has appeared in several high-profile projects such as Netflix’ “War Machine” starring Brad Pitt, Doctor Who alongside Peter Capaldi and Call the Midwife.

Josh Merritt

Writer

Echoes

Josh Merritt joined National Youth Film Academy as a writer and now has six years of experience in the industry. Josh has an extensive list of IMDB credits; writing,, editing, and directing for the British Film Institute, Rory Bremner, the Barbican, City of London amongst many others. Josh more recently wrote short film Echoes.

Ciara Baxendale

Actress

Harriet's Army

Ciara starred in short film Elan Vital, with National Youth Film Academy and is best known for playing the title role in Harriet’s Army for the BBC and playing series regular Izzy in three seasons of My Mad Fat Diary for Channel 4. Ciara also appeared in Spike Island with Elliott Tittensor and Emilia Clarke.

Sam Walker

Director

BBC

Sam directed short film Monday with National Youth Film Academy, his skills as a visual storyteller has seen him commissioned by The Tate Modern Gallery, shot documentaries for Cannes Lions as well as filming for the likes of BBC, Adidas and McDonalds.

Christopher Bevan

Director

Transcended

CHRISTOPHER BEVAN- DIRECTOR
Christopher Bevan directed short film Plus One with National Youth Film Academy and is now an award winning and Royal Television Society nominated filmmaker who has worked on a wide range of films including features, shorts, commercials, promos and documentaries. He has gained a wealth of experience over ten years of filmmaking across the UK, with his films being screened at festivals both in the UK and abroad. His credits include Transcended, Hollow Men and Love & Other Chairs.

Charlie Woodford

Actor

Heart of the Sea

Charlie is an actor and starred in short film Monday, since then he has shot numerous commercials such as BBC Sport, Subway, Tesco and Tom Odell’s music video for Hold Me. He also appeared in Warner’ Bros. Pictures feature film Heart of the Sea.

Louise Lynch

Production

Snow White and The Huntsman

LOUISE LYNCH - PRODUCTION
Louise Lynch produced short Plus One and currently freelances in Production. Louise’s credits include location management on Universal Pictures Snow White and the Huntsman, script supervisor on The Last House on Cemetery Lane and production secretary on Casualty.

Sophie King

Director

Swoon

Sophie's short film Swoon was selected to premier at the BFI Future Film Festival, and earned her a nomination as Best Director at Underwire Film Festival. Pretzel Films nominated her as Junior Director of the Year for 2015, and in 2016 she was chosen by BAFTA as a Guru Pro for her film directing work.

Saul Abraham

Director

Breaking

Saul was assitiany director to All Bar on an NYFA film in 2011. Since then he has won a number of film awards and is currently represented by independent Talent Group

Sally Paffett

Actor

Another Life

2011 Alumni Sally Paffett has been working professionally as an actor starring in the film another life

Abubakar Salim

Actor

Black Mirror

On our 2011 course Abubakar has had a fantastic career in TV and Film starring in Black Mirror, Assassins Creed and the Strike

Jordan Barrett

Crew

Vera

Jordan has worked as a crew member on a number of notable projects such as Vera, The Dumping Ground and Beowolf

Catherine Roys

Producer

Made Television

Catherine came onto our Apprenticeship program with the NYFA. She is now a Directs the National News for MADE TV in Leeds.

Olivia Chenery

Actor

Brotherhood

Olivia Chenery is an actress, known for Queens (2016), Brotherhood (2016) and Penny Dreadful (2014)

Kweku Amoa

Assistant Director

BBC

Now an assistant director at the BBC Kweku Amoa is known for his work on X+Y (2014), Devil's Tower (2014) and Make it Better

Hebe Beardsall

Actor

Harry Potter

Hebe Beardsall is an actress, known for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011), Still Life (2013) and Balcony (2015)

Segun Akinola

Composer

BBC

Segun Akinola is a composer based in London. His work includes scoring BBC Two's landmark four-part series 'Black and British: A Forgotten History' written and presented by Historian David Olusoga and Shola Amoo's debut feature film 'A Moving Image', which had its world premiere at the 2016 LA Film Festival, won the Special Recognition in Narrative

Guy Mannerings

Directors Assistant

Wonder Woman

Guy is known for his work on Wonder Woman (2017), Rogue One (2016) and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

Jaz Deol

Actor

Assassin's Creed

Jaz Deol is an actor and director, known for Assassin's Creed: Syndicate (2015), Forza Horizon (2012

Rachel Loughran

Actor

Million Dollar American Princesses

Rachel is an actress, comedienne and writer. As an actress Rachel has worked alongside Elizabeth McGovern in ITV’s ‘Million Dollar American Princesses’ playing the lead role in international feature film ‘Nice 2 Meet U’ and the critically acclaimed short film ‘Somebody’s Daughter.’ Rachel blogs for the Huffington Post as well as writing, directing and producing her comedy work including her viral ‘Brexit Bride’ sketch and PokePolitics web series, under the pseudonym Ray Lo.

Join the National Youth Film Academy

Aged 16-25? Want to get into the film?

We’re on the search exceptionally gifted young filmmakers and actors. Apply to become a member of the National Youth Film Academy.